Mr. Pond, the physics teacher who didn’t like confusion in the physics lab, so there had been no lab work during the course —
Mr. Raily, who was very solemn, and spoke every day of the obligations of world citizenship and the duties of the individual toward his group —
Miss Thompson, who couldn’t explain why it was necessary to diagram English sentences, but for whom he obediently did it —
Professor Adams, who constantly interrupted his lectures on Statics with remarks on the high obligation of the engineer towards his profession and the public to see that only standard practices are ever employed —
To each one he had adapted himself. They poured it out in lectures and texts. He gave it back in examinations and recitations. And they commended him for his high scholarship.
And none had ever asked: “Do you have an idea that is better than this, Eugene Montgomery?”
No one had ever asked if he had any ideas at all. It didn’t seem to matter. As long as he could function as a mental brick wall, bouncing back all they gave out, it was adequate.
But it had been pleasant — warm and friendly and pleasant. He remembered those years as the best of his life. There was no terror there. It was absurd to —
Now it was coming back. Slow, dark waves lapping at the edge of his mind. And he knew why it was there — yes, because he dared look upon himself as a student. The dark, lapping waves were the alternative to docile obedience and absorption of all he was taught. He would have brought them swirling up uncontrollably about his head in those high-school years if he’d dared allow himself to think Mr. Carling was an old fool, deaf, dumb and blind to the wonder of the beautiful thing he was murdering. There might have been a dozen in that class who could have been shown its light and beauty if their tender vision had been nourished carefully.
But Mr. Carling made certain they would never see. With his steady bumbling, that was in itself the peak of efficiency, he blinded their eyes beyond all recovery. And that was his purpose, Eugene Montgomery thought in sudden agonizing fury. Everyone knew it. Principal Martin, the School Board, everyone in the community — there was no one who was not aware of what little suit-salesman Carling was doing. And they did nothing about it.